December 2021
Next, we will proceed to a more detailed analysis of Bleta's functionalities and features.
After following the instructions, we'll go to the main page. There, short messages will appear explaining the functions of the buttons located on the left side or at the top, depending on the tablet's orientation. Once these are finished, we can use the tablet freely.
It's worth noting that the screen can be automatically rotated (landscape or portrait orientation). The images shown above are in landscape orientation. The interface appears as follows when the screen is in portrait orientation:
We noticed that the font size and icons in the main menu are quite large, making it easier to identify the application or function you want to access. The applications displayed in the main menu can be replaced with others you use more frequently.
In the top (or side) bar, we find 6 icons that represent the following functionalities:
Battery icon: This icon allows us to check the battery level. 
Wi-Fi icon: This icon tells you if you have an internet connection. If you are not connected, it will look like this. 
. 
Cast content icon: Allows you to connect the screen to devices that have the functionality to cast content, such as Chromecast (Google). 
Font size icon: Interacting with this icon will change the font size; sliding to the left will decrease the font size, and sliding to the right will increase the font size. 
Application menu icon: This icon allows us to go to the application menu.
Upon entering the applications menu, we will see the following:
As on the main page, the size of the icons and letters is noteworthy, as is the high-contrast text, which makes the available applications visible and distinguishable.
It is noteworthy that the installed applications are grouped into different categories, thus facilitating access to a specific application.
The categories include: cognition, entertainment, multimedia, communication, information, health, and others. All of these have applications designed to try to meet people's needs.
He launcher The tablet recognizes the app's category and adds it to that category; for example, when you install apps like Spotify or Amazon Prime Video, they are added to the "Multimedia" category. However, there are some apps like Glovo or Voice Access that are assigned to the “Other” category.
It's interesting that the launcher It should be able to recognize the category to which each application belongs, as this provides convenience when installing and searching for new apps.
In any case, it is possible to view all applications in the "All" option.
Due to an interface update after this review was completed, a new category called "Favorites" has been added where all the applications that the user marks as favorites are added (new icon represented by a star next to the icon). 
, (which appears when viewing the applications). In addition, the date and time have been added to the main screen.
Bleta has a large number of full-version, ad-free apps, which can be seen in the entertainment and cognition categories.
Also noteworthy is the "Contacts" application, which allows us to add people we want to communicate with via WhatsApp or SMS.
We also have the "WhatsApp Contacts" app, where we can communicate via WhatsApp through calls, video calls, or messages with new contacts we add, quickly and easily.
This app stands out for having a more visible interface than the first one (Contacts), which is more convenient when identifying contact names and communicating with them, but we have found that it is not possible to add a photo to identify the contact.
Among other features, we can see:
- On the screen we can see the presence of an icon with a house inside it .If we press and hold on this icon, we can move it to any part of the screen where it is most convenient to view it, and if we press on it, it will take us to the main page.
- This button will appear whenever we are not on the main screen, regardless of whether we are in the tablet settings or inside an application.
- By pressing the settings button Next to the applications, we will see 4 options: open, pin to home screen, uninstall, or cancel.
- Question mark iconThis icon allows us to consult the digital user manual.
If we access the User Manual, we can see some of the features and learn how to use them. There's also a Contact section, which explains how to get in touch with the developers, and a Frequently Asked Questions section that answers common questions users might have.
The inclusion of a user manual on the tablet is noteworthy, because although the entire product includes a physical manual, having a digital manual makes it easier to resolve any doubts that may arise instantly.
Furthermore, it is much more visible, since as we can see the letters are considerably larger compared to the physical size.
Likewise, it empowers and gives a certain degree of autonomy to the user, as it allows them to understand the workings of the environment and the functionalities individually.
Design and manufacturing
Sturdiness
The high quality of the materials used to make the tablet ensures that this product will last with use over time.
For more information, you can consult the manual or the "Lenovo Tab M10 (HD)" quick start guide that comes included in the kit.
Packaging
The package is a well-labeled and protected cardboard box, containing a thank you letter, a user manual, a tablet with its respective power adapter and microUSB cable, a 360º rotating protective case and a stylus pen.
Physical characteristics
The tablet features a 10.1-inch HD display, Dolby Atmos audio, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of storage expandable with a microSD card, a 2-megapixel front camera and a 5-megapixel rear camera, a microphone, a speaker, and a headphone jack. It also has a 4G mobile data slot.
Dimensions and weight
Tablet dimensions: 16.8 cm wide, 24.2 cm long, and 0.81 cm thick.
Tablet weight: 480 g.
Forms of connectivity
WIFI, GPS, Bluetooth.
Technical support
Technical support is free; the technical support team will resolve all our questions and technical problems that arise through contact@bleta.io or by calling +34 644 679 211.
External assessments
Bleta won first prize in the sixth edition of Emprenedoria Social, an initiative of Barcelona Activa, in September 2021. The award recognized an innovative project that designed a tablet adapted for senior citizens, aiming to bring new technologies to this demographic and address the digital divide. You can read more about this award at the following links:
Technical specifications
Reliability
During testing, "Bleta Launcher" functioned correctly, and the tablet (Lenovo Tab M10 HD) also performed flawlessly. The touchscreen, cameras, microphone, and other features all worked perfectly when the user interacted with them.
Performance
During testing, we found no performance issues; that is, we never experienced prolonged waiting times or slowness while navigating the tablet through different pages, windows, or applications.
Consumption
We must not forget that battery life will be affected by the time we use our tablet, the applications we interact with, as well as other external factors such as temperature, among others.
Through various tests conducted with Bleta, we have verified that the battery life is long. According to the manufacturer The battery can last up to 504 hours, but this may vary depending on usage. For example, the manufacturer claims that the battery can last up to 8 hours of 720p quality video playback.
Security
The data we provide to Bleta Solutions SL, which is responsible for processing the user's personal data, is processed in accordance with the provisions of the Regulation (EU) 2016/679 and the Organic Law 3/2018.
For more information we must read the Privacy Policy which is available on the Bleta website.
Accessibility
Bleta was designed especially for older people, but thanks to the great visibility of the environment we can say that it has features that also make it easier for people with visual difficulties to use.
Among Bleta's accessibility features, we highlight:
- It has a simple design with a simple interface that makes it easy to understand the tablet environment.
- It is possible to configure the home screen so that we can place the most used applications on it.
- The text and icons are quite visible, making it easy to recognize the functions. You can easily increase or decrease the font size on the homepage using the icon. .
Likewise, by delving deeper into the tablet's settings, we will find the accessibility options offered by devices with the Android operating system:
Accessibility testing with screen readers
When testing the TalkBack screen reader on our Bleta, we observed certain problems:
- It is not possible to access the home screen using the home button represented by a house.
- Some buttons are unlabeled, which makes TalkBack difficult to use.
Voice control accessibility tests
We have carried out tests in Bleta with the application Voice Access, which consists of an app that allows us to use our Android device through voice commands.
Some problems detected in the correct functioning of both products were the same as those presented in the tests with screen readers, such as the lack of labels on certain buttons.
Accessibility testing in terms of sizes within the interface.
While it is true that the interface has great visibility, if you try to adjust the sizes of the icons and letters from the tablet settings, you will see that it is not possible, since Bleta comes with these by default.
The only adjustable element is the words that appear on the main screen, via the corresponding bar.
Conclusions
Bleta has undoubtedly proven to be a product well-suited to seniors, thanks to its simple and intuitive interface that can be customized to each user's needs. Furthermore, the tablet boasts a good-sized screen for easy viewing, HD resolution, good sound quality, and ample internal storage.
Although this product is geared towards and adapted for older people, it can be used by anyone who wants a simpler interface.
Key points
- Software adapted for older people, with an intuitive interface, containing large letters and icons, making it easier to use the tablet.
- It is noteworthy that you can change which applications appear on the main screen, making them easier to access.
- Also noteworthy is the existence of a button to return to the home page from any window or page.
- Bleta arrives fully configured and ready to use.
- The configuration is customized to the user's needs and can be determined during the purchase period.
- The included touch pen allows for more comfortable interaction.
- It has a large number of full-version applications.
- The division of the application menu into sections is interesting, as it makes it easier to find apps that have a similar purpose.
- It is striking that the launcher Identify the installed applications and assign them to the appropriate section.
- The inclusion of a user manual allows users to consult some aspects of the existing functionalities, frequently asked questions, and ways to contact the developers, making the Bleta user experience more comfortable and helping them understand the tablet environment.
It is important to mention that both a physical and a digital manual are included.
Areas for improvement
- Despite the order of the applications in sections in the menu, it would be interesting to include a search function to find them by name.
- In the “Whatsapp Contacts” application it is not possible to add a photo to registered contacts.
- The number of app icons on the home screen cannot be changed; it must always be 6.
- Likewise, it is not possible to change the size of the letters or icons in the application menu, nor the icons on the home screen.
- In the tests with Voice Access And in Talkback, we noticed the existence of some unlabeled buttons, which makes it difficult to recognize the functionality in case of visual impairment.
- The time displayed in the upper left corner is cut off on some of the interface screens. .
- It would be useful to have an alarm button or SOS button on the main menu to immediately contact a trusted contact or the emergency services.
